Improvement in sand dredging-machines



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N0. 125,023. PatentedMarclf126,1872.

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4u, P/foTa-L/rfmsRAPrI/A to. M K/ Urbanus: Pnactss/ JOHN THORNE OLARKSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT IN SAND DREDGlNG-MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 125,023, dated March 26, 1872.

To twhom 'it may concern:

Beit known that I, JOHN THORNECLARK- soN, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Sand-Dredges; and I do declare that the following is a true and accurate description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawing and to the letters of reference marked thereon and being a part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a side elevation of my dredge in the operation of gathering a load of sand. Fig. 2 is a similar view ofthe same as when loaded and drawn out of the water. Fig. 3 is a plan view, and Fig'. 4 is a general plan view, showin g the operation of a pair of these dredges. Fig. 5 is a front-en d elevation of the dredge.

Like letters refer to like parts in each gure.

The nature of this invention relates to a sand-dredge, to be used for gathering sand from the bed of a body of water, and to be operated from the shore, and is so constructed that the dredging process will only be carried on while the dredge is immersed. The invention consists, iirst, in the peculiar con struction and form of a metallic dredge-boat; and second, in a peculiar roller and its attachments, whereby the dredge is lifted from the bottom, and is supported by the said roller as it leaves the water.

In the drawing, A represents a boat-shaped dredge, preferably made of boiler-plate. It is supported under the counter by a roller, B, which keeps that part clear of the ground. The bow has an incline or rake to its fiat bottom, and terminates in an offset as it `joins the sides of the dredge, the space in the hull below it being open. A knife, C, is secured across the front edge of the iioor of the dredge the full length of this opening, to serve as a scraper to scoop up the sand in the advance of the dredge when in contact with the bottom. c

Dis a shaft, journaled transversely across the top of the bow in bearings F, at the sides thereof. A rigid arm, E, is secured to the ends of said shaft, and to the lower ends of said arms there is j onrnaled a hollow, air-tight, metallic roller, G, extending across the bottom of the bow, the arms being of such length that,

when-brought to a perpendicular, the hollowter it will just eounterbalance the weight of the arms E and roller G, but when the dredge enters'the water, it will overbalance the said roller and throw it forward, allowing the front part of the dredge to drop until the knife engages with the bottom. K is an eyebolt at each end, for connecting the dredge to wire tow-ropes. I I are ringbolts at each side, by which the dredge may be slung to ropes and upset to dump its load. y

The dredge thus constructed I use for gathering sand from the bed of a lake, for building and other purposes, two of them being used in the system shown in the general plan, Fig. 4, in which two clusters of piles are driven into the ground near the beach, and two parallel therewith out in the water, all four being provided with drums or sheaves, around which passes an endless wire-rope, a turn of which is also taken around the drum of a winch, between thc shore-piles, operated by an engine or other motor.

The dredges as they move back and forth fill with sand, and as they reach the shore the counter-weight, as above described, allows the roller G to take the ground, and in the further advance of the dredge it is moved upon the two rollers B G. At the proper place the slings of a derrick are hooked into the eyebolts I and the contents dumped.

WVhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. The boatshaped dredge A, provided with the roller B and knife C, constructed and arranged substantially as described and shown.

2. In a sand-dredge, the roller G, constructed substantially as described, for the purposes set forth.

JOHN THORNE CLARKSON.

Witnesses:

WM. H. Lotrz, JULIUs WELcKn.

derrick- 

